The Vía de La Plata

From Sevilla to Santiago de Compostela. 38 sections. 963 km.

Andalusia is the starting point for the Vía de la Plata or Southern Way, a Camino that crosses the Iberian Peninsula from South to North through the regions of Extremadura and Castilla y León. Astorga is the town where pilgrims on the Vía de la Plata traditionally meet those on the Camino Francés or French Way to access Galicia and continue to Santiago de Compostela. Besides, you can also continue to Puebla de Sanabria and do the Sanabria Way.

This Route offers nature, calm landscapes and quaint villages. The Vía de la Plata also goes through Roman ruins, historic cities and lively towns such as for example the Andalusian capital, Seville, and UNESCO Heritage Sites such as Mérida, Cáceres or Salamanca. The Southern Way is a great chance for pilgrims to discover amazing spots such as the ruins of Augusta Emerita, or to enjoy some Iberico ham.

Historically, this Way was used to trade in silver coming from the Americas by ship to the port of Seville, hence its name (literally, silver way). In fact, that is also the current name of the Roman road that goes through Mérida, Salamanca and Astorga, and even of the autovía (toll-free highway) that links Seville to León.

How to get to the starting point?

Seville is the main starting point for the Vía de la Plata, a city properly connected to the rest of Spain:

- How to get to Seville by train: The railway station of Santa Justa is the main junction in Seville. It is located at Avenida de Kansas City (+34 954 540 202). You may catch the AVE, a high-speed train, from Madrid, or any one of many other trains from other destinations. Please check timetables at Renfe.

- How to get to Seville by bus: There are two bus stations in Seville: one at Plaza de Armas (Av. del Cristo de la Expiración s/n. Tel: +34 954 908 040) and another one at el Prado (C/Manuel Vázquez Segastizábal s/n. Tel: +34 954 417 111). There are coaches from different Spanish destinations operated by Damas, Alsa, Casal, Socibus or Comes.

- How to get to Seville by car: Depending on where you are coming from, you can reach Seville from different access routes:

Asturias, Castilla y León, Mérida and Portugal: N-630.

Madrid and Córdoba: N-IV (E5)

Huelva and Portugal: Autovía A-49 (toll-free)

Málaga, Granada, Almería and Murcia: A-92 (toll highway)

- How to get to Seville by plane: Seville’s airport, San Pablo, is on the toll highway A-4. There are 36 domestic and international flights from this airport with different airliners. Please check for details at Aena. You can take a taxi to get to the city centre, it takes 15 minutes and costs around 15 to 22 Euros. There is also a city bus from Seville Airport. The trip takes half an hour and tickets start at 4 Euro (+34 902 459 954).

Confraternity Sites

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Sevilla

C/ Castilla, nº 82 Local

Sevilla, 41010

viaplata@terra.es

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Huelva

C/ Alemania, 26 - Bajo (Casa de Galicia)

Huelva, 21001

ferquindo@hotmail.com

Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago - Vía de la Plata de Fuenteroble de Salvatierra

We transfer your rucksack or suitcase from accommodation to accommodation!! In this way, you can walk more comfortably, unburdened, and enjoying every step of the Way. We will take your luggage every day to your next hostel or hotel.

Decide where you want to start the Camino and we will send your bicycle there from any of our Correos offices. Once you finish the Way you can again go to the nearest post office and send it back home. We send your bicycle neatly packaged and insured in a way that you need not disassemble it.

With our Paq Peregrino you can send suitcases or parcels to any point in the Camino -hostel, hotel, Correos office, etc. - so that your stuff is there when you arrive. This way you can have extra clothes or other items and not only the ones you take for your walk. You can also send back whatever you may have in your rucksack for the Camino that you no longer need.

So that you have nothing to worry about other than just enjoying the Camino

In Correos we have a prepaid card that is not linked to any bank account. In this way, you can do the Camino without taking your credit or debit cards with you. You will only have to top it up with the money you need and then top up again if you run out of balance. This is a simple, safe and comfortable way of taking your money along the Camino.

Correos offices along the Way stamp your Credencial or Pilgrim's Passport with our special stamps. Many of them display a significant tourist attraction of that particular place for you to keep as a souvenir.

You can send a parcel from any of the over one-hundred CORREOS offices located along the Way and from some of our “Tiendas Amigas del Camino”, a network of shops and accommodations from where you can send parcels any time you want. This service will help you get rid of the content of your luggage that you no longer need, buy some souvenirs, typical products... without having to worry about carrying them with you.

Our Pilgrim's Office at Rúa do Franco, 150 metres from the Plaza del Obradoiro, has lockers. You can leave your rucksack, suitcase, bike, trekking pole... before you go into the Cathedral or to visit Santiago without having to worry about your luggage.

FAQS

The line is busy, How can I contact you? You can send us a WhatsApp to (+34) 683 44 00 22 or an e-mail to paqmochila@correos.com

Do I have to drop off and pick up my rucksack in a Correos office in each stage? No, you do not have to come to a Correos office. We will collect it and bring it to the location you have provided (Except Municipal Hostels, where we will deposit your rucksack in a nearby location)

Do you offer the service during the weekend? From the holy week to the 31st of October the service is available from Monday to Sunday, festivities included. For other dates you can contact us at paqmochila@correos.com

I am thinking of staying in public hostels, Can I deposit my rucksack there? Public hostels don’t allow to drop off or pick up rucksacks in their establishment therefore, you can deposit your rucksack in a friendly location we will note.

Do I have to book accommodation in all the stages beforehand? You only need to know the accommodation for the first day. You can show us your where you are staying day-to-day.

Can I hire the rucksack shipping if I do the CAMINO by bicycle? You can hire the shipping service as long as the stages do not exceed 90 km.

Can I bring a suitcase instead of a rucksack? Of course! You can bring a suitcase, rucksack or travel bag whereas it is enough sturdy to carry.

If my rucksack exceeds 20 kg, Do I have to pay excess baggage charges? Maximum weight is 20kg. There is no excess weight charges, you should have to hire the shipping for two rucksacks.

If I do have baggage excess during the CAMINO, Can I send some of my belongings in order to lighten my rucksack? Using Paq Peregrino you can send your extra clothes or personal items to the Correos Office within the location where you want to finish your CAMINO, your home or the Correos Office in your location.

What do I have to do if there is an incident during the CAMINO? For any incident that may occur during the Way you can contact us by phone (+34) 683 44 00 22, WhatsApp or email paqmochila@correos.com.

Can I change the destination or accommodation that had been programmed? Any change in the itinerary must be reported the day before the shipping sooner than 9pm.

If I cannot begin the CAMINO, How can I cancel my booking? If you cannot begin the CAMINO we will give you a full refund. Send us an e-mail to paqmochila@correos.com requesting the refund.